Ireland becomes first country to approve gay marriage in referendum

With all the votes now counted, Ireland has become the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriages by popular vote.

The results from all the constituencies have now been declared.
Ireland has voted for same-sex marriages with 62.1 percent
Yesto 37.9 percent No, or 1,201,607
votes to 734,300. The total turnout was 60.5 percent.

Local media proclaim that the Friday referendum has granted
ultimate support to gay marriages, a culmination of a four-decade
struggle for gay rights.

However unexpected a gay marriage referendum might appear in the
traditionally Catholic country, officials acknowledged a ‘Yes’
vote looked in the bag even before the count began. Saturday
morning, several ministers already predicted that the vote would
pass.

All Ireland's main political parties, including the
conservatives, have showed support to amending the constitutional
definition of marriage.

"Whatever the final outcome, the issue of equality for gay
and lesbian citizens is a live political issue," Gerry
Adams, president of the nationalist Sinn Fein opposition party,
told The Daily Telegraph.

The country’s Catholic Church hierarchy campaigned for a "No"
vote, insisting marriage can only involve a man and woman. Many
older and rural voters agreed with the clergy. However, on
Saturday, David Quinn, of the Catholic think tank the Iona
Institute, tweeted: "Congratulations to the Yes side. Well
done."